as a welder myself and im sure you can testify that even a small tack weld pulls when it cools so the process of POST HEAT TREATING IS TO HEAT THE ENTIRE PIECE TO A PREDETERMINED TEMP.LET IT ALL COOL EVENLY BY AIR OR LIQUID METHODS, SO ALL WELD TENSION IS RELIEVED EQUALLY THRU OUT THE PIECE.
Ahhh cheers for that, makes a
lot o sense, ive never really needed to look into heat treatment etc doing what i do. Am aware of weld tension you describe, just up end some steel strap on a plate n tack it one side, then watch lean over as it cools!
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Another thing im fuzzy on is how different materials are affected by heat treatment ie changing properties etc as well as stress relief but i really dont know. As someone already said before its possible to lose teeth if a barend snaps!! eeeek.
A tip to anyone looking to paint a sh frame thats in a bad way paintwise is get it sand blasted before you start! much easier than messing about rubbing tubes. Perfect clean base to coat it up from too. Best to use an etching primer on bare metal btw(wear a decent mask in a well ventilated area!!), visit your local paint factor and they should be able to mix a spray can for you if you got no kit.